Celebrating A Year Of Excellence: Sports Illustrated Honors 2025’s Top Athletes At Wynn Las Vegas

Some of 2025’s sports greats all in one spot honoring each other and the epic year they each had. Say less! 

Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Sportsperson of the Year awards honors athletes whose impact reached far beyond the stat sheet. In a season defined by excellence, leadership, and consistency, the 2025 honorees rose to the top of their sport while shaping its future. Multiple sports figures were honored and presented with prestigious awards during the annual event held at XS Nightclub inside Wynn Las Vegas. 

The Blast was in attendance for the Sports Illustrated 2025 Sportsperson of the Year awards in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. 

This year’s coveted Sportsperson of the Year honor belongs to Oklahoma City Thunder starShai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In 2025, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in NBA history. He didn’t just establish himself as one of the NBA’s most dominant forces, he emerged as a leader and cultural influence, earning him Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Sportsperson of the Year distinction.

His rise to superstardom has been marked by patience, growth, and resilience. Selected 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Gilgeous-Alexander was traded on draft night to the Los Angeles Clippers. He quickly made an impact, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. One year later, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the blockbuster trade that sent Paul George to Los Angeles.

Since arriving in Oklahoma City, his role expanded every season. Gilgeous-Alexander evolved into an All-NBA caliber player, spearheading the Thunder’s rapid rebuild and leading the franchise back into playoff contention in the early 2020s.

At the event on Tuesday night, after a round of applause, SGA took the mic to give his award acceptance speech. After thanking Sports Illustrated for the "honor," the NBA star shared some of his backstory.

"Growing up, this moment wasn't something most people could have predicted for me," he began his speech. "Wasn't a top recruit in high school. I was overlooked. I didn't have a freak nature athletic ability that wowed people."

He explained that when he began in the NBA, he was a "backup," and when he began to figure things out, he was traded.

"I showed up every single day and did all the little things when nobody was watching," he continued. "An old friend of mine told me, 'All the little things will eventually turn into big things over time.' And that's why this award is so meaningful to me."

SGA explained why this past season was an "incredible one."

"My teammates trusted me, my coaches challenged me, staff prepared me, we all grew together," he said. "And this award belongs to all of us."

The Innovators of the Year award was presented to WNBA stars and Unrivaled co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. (Collier wasn't present at the event on Tuesday night due to injury/surgery.)

Collier, the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist partnered with three-time WNBA champion, two-time WNBA MVP, and Olympic gold medalist Stewart to launch Unrivaled in January 2025. The professional women’s basketball league, played during the WNBA offseason, made an immediate impact, drawing major sponsors, elite talent, and a rapidly growing fan base.

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, and Serena Williams' husband, presented the Innovators of the Year award to Stewart.

"Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, they saw this opportunity and stepped up and changed their game. They changed the sport of basketball," he said. "Their 3-on-3 league has been a massive success. A huge TV deal, powerhouse corporate sponsorships, incredible social presence, and world class content creation."

He continued to share the achievements Stewart and Collier have been able to bring to Unrivaled and the players before Stewart joined him on stage to accept the award.

"Thank you so much to Sports Illustrated, this is truly and honor," Stewie said. "I'm incredibly proud to be able to accept this award together with my partner, Napheesa Collier, even though she couldn't be here tonight, Unrivaled simply doesn't exist without her vision, leadership, and willingness to challenge what's already been done."

She explained that creating Unrivaled wasn't about "creating something new," it was about "building something better."

"We're grateful for the athletes who believed in us, the partners who took a chance on us, and the fans who continue to push the game forward," she continued. "This award isn't just for us. It's for every woman who's ever been told to wait their turn. We decided to build our own table so pull up a seat; we're just getting started."

On the red carpet ahead of the event, Stewart told The Blast exclusively that she sees Unrivaled "going to a place that we've never been before."

"Obviously, it’s a 3 on 3 league and we’re having the best players, we’re marketing and getting content on the court and off the court all the time and that’s the biggest part is the storytelling," she said. "Sometimes when it’s the off season, you can’t find players for x amount of months and now you can see them every single day and what they’re doing, the fun stuff and the not so fun stuff, but people are able to be in the know."

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, a global mental health advocate, and founder of the Michael Phelps Foundation, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, presented by Laila Ali.

With 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold, Phelps is being honored not only for his unparalleled athletic achievements, but for more than a decade of tireless work championing mental health awareness and expanding access to care.

"This award is named after my father and inspired by his dominance in the ring and his activism and humanitarianism out of the ring," Ali said before calling Phelps onto the stage. "And I can say Michael Phelps is someone who reflects many of the same qualities my father stood for - constant drive, pursuit of perfection, and a competitive spirit that never backed down."

During a round of applause, Phelps found his way onto the stage to accept the award and share some words. The Olympic swimmer shared some insight into why he advocates for mental health the way he does.

"Receiving this tonight, is incredible. When you hear the word legacy, most people think about medals, records, and what happens on the playing field, or in my case, the swimming pool. Hours of training, years of hard work, a lifetime of being a competitor at the highest level of your sport, but the truth is, the most important moments in my life didn't happen on the podium."

He continued by explaining that his most important moments happened in a "very dark place." He continued to share that despite all his success, he felt "alone."

"There were moments I didn't think I was strong enough to actually keep going, and if I'm being honest, that's hard to say out loud," he continued. "But it does matter because too many people feel the same exact way."

Almost 10 years ago, Phelps decided to take the leap and be honest about his struggles by sharing his story. He felt that was the "moment I finally removed the armor." He also explained that opening up about his mental health struggle saved his life.

"Today, my greatest pride isn't found in what I achieved, but the conversations now I'm able to have about mental health," he said. "The amount of times that people walked up to me and said I spoke up and I opened up because of what you said. That's a movement, that's a legacy. That's what legacy matters to me."

This year’s Breakout Star of the Year Award goes to Cal Raleigh, MLB All-Star, Platinum and Gold Glove winner, MLBPA Player of the Year, Silver Slugger winner, and Sporting News MLB Player of the Year.

This award recognizes an athlete who transforms from a rising talent into a national sensation. In his fifth MLB season, Raleigh made history with 60 home runs for the Seattle Mariners. Named a first-time All-Star in 2025, he carried his momentum into the postseason, leaving his mark during a thrilling Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

"It's a great honor to be here today," Raleigh began his acceptance speech. "So many great players, athletes, people in this room."

He continued by thanking his family, the city of Seattle, the organization, fans, and teammates.

Visit The Blast's Instagram page for the full photo gallery from the event.